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https://theconversation.com/sexual-exploitation-by-un-peacekeepers-in-drc-fatherless-children-speak-for-first-time-about-the-pain-of-being-abandoned-188248>
Trigger warning: This article discusses a difficult systemic issue involving
child sexual abuse in considerable depth with many quotes describing
distressing situations, incuding rape.
My father left my mother while she was pregnant – she gave birth when he had
already left. People call me “daughter of a bitch”. They disturb and hurt me
so much. They say they will chase me because I am a foreigner. I am
suffering.
"These are the words of Emma* – a 13-year-old girl from Beni, a city in the
east of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) near its border with Uganda.
Emma’s mother Grace* was still in school when she met and became involved with
a Uruguayan soldier working in DRC as a United Nations peacekeeper. When Grace
got pregnant, ‘Javier’ promised his support and told her not to worry. Grace
was under the impression they would get married and start a family.
Yet only a few weeks later, Javier returned to Uruguay and was never heard from
again. Unable to cover the costs of pregnancy and childbirth, Grace was deeply
affected by his leaving. To provide Emma with food, clothes and shelter, she
was compelled to exchange sex with peacekeepers from the nearby UN base for
small amounts of money or items like bread, milk and soap. She has yet to
receive any support from the father or his military, and is unable to meet her
daughter’s longer-term needs including her education."
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
